Did one in 10 Greeks die in World War Two?

More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC

Business, Mathematics, Science, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 7 December 2024

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

When World War Two came to Greece, a period of terrible human suffering followed. There was a brutal battle with Italian and then Nazi forces, followed by an occupation in which thousands were executed and a terrible famine swept the nation.

There’s an often repeated number that appears to capture the brutality of this time – that 10% of the Greek population died during the war.

We investigate where this statistic comes from and whether it is true.

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald Producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

Transcript

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0:00.0	In Northern Ireland, from the late 70s to the early 90s, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers.
0:08.0	But the man who often found, tortured and sometimes killed these people on behalf of the IRA
0:12.0	was himself an informer, a secret British army agent with the codename Stakeknife.
0:18.0	Who gets to play God? And why me? Why my family?
0:21.4	When lies are still being told to this day, who do you believe?
0:25.1	I wouldn't even know where to start, and I'm with the IRA.
0:28.5	Steakknife.
0:29.7	Listen first on BBC Sounds.
0:32.4	Thanks for downloading the more or less podcast.
0:35.2	This is the program that looks at some of the numbers in the news and in life.
0:39.7	I'm Charlotte McDonald.
0:44.7	On the 28th of October, Greek people around the world celebrate Ohi Day,
0:50.5	commemorating the rejection of an ultimaton given by Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini in 1940.
0:58.3	This rejection saw Greece plunge into the Second World War on the side of Great Britain and its allies.
1:05.3	That the war in Greece was brutal and cost many thousands of lives is not in question.
1:11.9	But long-time listener Preston Kavanaugh got in touch from Florida in the US
1:16.6	to ask about a claim on the Washington O'Hie Day Foundation website that says,
1:22.4	Overall, one out of ten Greeks gave their lives during World War II.
1:27.4	Is this number correct?
1:29.3	Is it right that 10% of the Greek population died in World War II?
1:37.3	Let's start with the basic history.
1:40.3	The Second World War came to Greece a little later than for other countries in Europe.
	...

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